Mesa City Council had history of difficult members before Ryan Winkle

Mesa Councilman Ryan Winkle holds a press conference May 17, 2017, with his wife, Ericka Varela, to address his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence on May 7, 2017.(Photo: Hannah Gaber/The Republic)

It’s happened twice before Mesa’s Charter was amended, empowering “The Council (to) be the judge of the election, qualification, and fitness of its members … and of the grounds for forfeiture of their office or other discipline."

Under the charter, action is “at the sole discretion of the City Council if five or more Councilmembers agree that a Councilmember has violated the mandatory code of ethics … (and) has engaged in conduct demonstrating a lack of fitness for office.”

Council member conduct has resurfaced following Ryan Winkle’s arrest in Tempe, after he was accused of nearly striking three pedestrians with his car and charged with “super extreme” DUI.

At a special council meeting on June 15, the council, considering evidence presented, unanimously agreed there was sufficient reason to charge “Councilmember Ryan Winkle with conduct constituting grounds for forfeiture of office or other discipline,” and moved to schedule a hearing in August.

The council's first judgment

The council was first put into the position of judging one of its own in October 1996, just four months after T. Farrell Jensen was sworn in to his second term in office.

Jensen’s “daytime” job was executive director of the United Food Bank of Arizona.

He got into trouble when it was determined he had double charged $825.51 in travel expenses to the Food Bank and the city of Mesa. Additional questionable actions arose soon after.

On Oct. 4, 1996, following a presentation of the evidence and considerable discussion, the council voted, 4-2, to request Jensen’s resignation.

After initially refusing to step down, Jensen relinquished his office and his position at the Food Bank.

'Knee-gate'

: A bitter feud between fellow Mesa city councilmembers Joan Payne and Jim Stapley led to counter lawsuits over Payne’s allegation that Stapley made inappropriate advances during a 1994 police helicopter ride. Stapley wound up resigning.(Photo: Arizona Republic)

Less than a year later, the council was once again judging a peer. This time it was over an allegation that Jim Stapley had impersonated a Pinal County sheriff’s deputy, and a lawyer.

The impersonation accusation came on the heels of a more salacious “he-said she-said” incident that became known as “knee-gate.”

It involved fellow Councilwoman Joan Payne’s accusation that Stapley inappropriately touched her knee during a police helicopter flight. In a radio interview, Payne labeled Stapley “a pervert in polyester,” and a racist.

On the eve of calling for a special council investigation of the various incidents, and without admitting any culpability, Stapley, the brother of former County Supervisor Don Stapley, resigned, saying in a letter, “Recently, my effectiveness as a councilmember has been diminished due to numerous false allegations.

“I leave my service to the public with much sadness. However, I know that taking this difficult step is in the best interest of Mesa, and most of all, my family and me.”

Two decades have passed since those dark chapters in Mesa’s history. Now, there is the Winkle issue.

Ironically, one person will have been part of all three inquiries. Then councilman, now Mayor John Giles, is once again sitting in judgment of a colleague.